“But what can we do?” I asked, eyeing the great ape who still clung to the bars of the grating and fiercely watched our every movement.
“Confound the beast!” exclaimed Archie, and threw a small emerald at the brute.
The jewel missed him and fell in the domed chamber. In a flash Fo-Chu bounded after it, caught it in his claws, and examined it with almost human shrewdness. Then he sprang at the grating again, and clung there as before.
“Good!” cried Joe. “I believe we can capture the ape and get him out of the way for good. Shall we risk it?”
When he explained his plan we thought it was worth a trial. On looking around we found a chain necklace, with heavy links of gold set with gems. Joe stood before the grating and waved the necklace just out of reach of the beast’s hand, tantalizing old Fo-Chu until he grew furious and shook the bars with fierce energy.
Then suddenly Joe released the necklace and sent it flying far into the chamber.
With a bound the ape was after it, and Joe released the catch and skipped out of our alcove in an instant, running to the next grating to the right, which he opened before Fo-Chu discovered he had been tricked. But seeing Joe standing quietly at the next alcove the beast uttered a snarl and with savage impetuosity hurled his huge body straight at his proposed victim. Joe slid behind the wall and allowed the ape to fall sprawling within the alcove. The next instant the boy was outside, slamming the grating to and springing the catch.
We who had watched this bold trick with bated breath now uttered a cry of joy and dashed out of our retreat.
“The tables are turned,” said Joe, panting a little from his exertions. “You are now our prisoner, Fo-Chu.”
The ape realized it and with blood-curdling yelps was furiously testing the bars in his effort to escape. But they held securely and we knew we were safe.